Why am I here? What is my purpose? Today I finished a book that addresses these questions. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren has been sitting on my bookshelf calling my name and I finally read it. I’m sure you’ve heard of it because it is has been on the New York Times Best Seller list for one of the longest periods in history.

Here are some things that I walked away with:

• It’s not about you.
• If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God.
• Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason.
• There are no unspiritual abilities, just misused ones. Start using yours for God’s pleasure.
• You cannot fulfill God’s purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans.
• Knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege, and being known and loved is God’s greatest pleasure.
• You are as close to God as you choose to be.
• God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.
• God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do.
• Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you.
• Every temptation is an opportunity to do good.
• Don’t waste your pain; use it to help others.
• There are no shortcuts to maturity. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time.

So if you happen to have this book sitting on your bookshelf and haven’t read it I hope you do. You won’t regret it. The only regret I have about this book is not reading it sooner.

This Sunday is Big Day at People’s Church.

worlds inside toilet paper rolls by Anastassia Elias

This weekend at People’s Church we are starting a series called Sexual Revolution. Everybody has an opinion on this topic, but we are going to share God’s take on the subject. So if your in the OKC area (or even if you’re not) make plans to be at People’s Church this Sunday as we kick off this exciting series with a special performance. Check out the promo video below for more details.

Click here to email an invite for this series. Be sure and bring someone with you this Sunday.

Sexual Revolution from People’s Church on Vimeo.

The Old Testament in 60 Seconds (Check out the New Testament in 60 Seconds here.)

Last week I shared one of my favorite books is Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. I’m currently reading his first book In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day and thought I would send some inspiration your way by sharing the “Lion Chasers Manifesto”:

“Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Criticize by creating. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.”

Quit running from lions and instead chase them.

Yesterday my pastor, Herbert Cooper, shared 10 reasons why he is a big believer in small groups. Check out a few below and then see all 10 on his blog at herbertcooper.com.

1. People can pray and be prayed for.
2. People can care for one another.
3. People can hold each other accountable.

P.S. My pastor is now on twitter. Follow him @herbertcooper.